HealthWell Foundation Kicks Off Lung Cancer Awareness Month With Launch Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Fund

Copayment Assistance Now Available to People Living with NSCLC

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Nov 03, 2014, 08:00 ET

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The HealthWell Foundation^®, an independent non-profit that provides financial assistance to underinsured Americans to help them afford life-changing medical treatments, today announced the launch of a new fund to assist people living with non-small cell lung cancer. Through the fund, the HealthWell Foundation will provide copayment assistance to eligible NSCLC patients to help ease the burden of medical costs to treat their condition.

"We're honored to add non-small cell lung cancer to our growing list of funds to assist oncology patients," said Krista Zodet, HealthWell Foundation President. "Through the generosity of our donors, we are able to ease some of the financial burden NSCLC patients face in treating their illness. The last thing a person diagnosed with lung cancer needs is to worry about making ends meet because their copays have strained their finances."

According to the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), non-small cell lung cancer accounts for 80 to 85 percent of lung cancer diagnoses. About 224,210 new cases of lung cancer (116,000 in men and 108,210 in women) were diagnosed in 2014, according to the American Cancer Society.

"Cancer patients have a multitude of concerns regarding their diagnosis and treatment. The added anxiety associated with the cost of their care is a hurdle that has long-term psychological implications," said Suzanne Miller, PhD, Professor and Director of the Psychosocial and BioBehavioral Medicine Department, member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Dr. Miller also serves as a member on the Board of Directors at HealthWell Foundation. "Providing NSCLC patients with programs and services that eliminate some of the costs associated with care are key factors in reducing anxiety and facilitating treatment compliance and overall well-being."

"The financial needs of people with lung cancer are often great. Copay assistance can help ensure that people with NSCLC get the medications they need and can relieve some of the burden of this disease. We are pleased that HealthWell Foundation is again offering this vital assistance to those with health insurance who are struggling with medication copays," said Maureen Rigney, Director of Community and Support Service for Lung Cancer Alliance.

LCA, is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives and advancing research by empowering those living with and at risk for lung cancer.

To determine eligibility and apply for assistance through the HealthWell Foundation's NSCLC Fund, or to learn how you can support this program, visit the Foundation's website at www.HealthWellFoundation.org.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, lung cancer forms in tissues of the lung, usually in the cells lining air passages. The two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. These types are diagnosed based on how the cells look under a microscope.

According to the LCA, NSCLC typically grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer. Some lung cancer tumors are composed of cells from more than one type of NSCLC. The most common risk factors for NSCLC are smoking (cigarettes, pipe, and cigars), exposure to second-hand smoke, exposure to radon, and radiation therapy (due to breast cancer treatment).

The most commonly diagnosed types of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma in situ, minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, faster growing form of NSCLC, and large cell neuroendocrine tumors. Visit LCA's infographic to learn more about lung cancer.

About the HealthWell Foundation
A nationally recognized independent non-profit organization founded in 2003, the HealthWell Foundation^® has served as a safety net for over 175,000 underinsured patients by providing access to life-changing medical treatments they otherwise would not be able to afford.

HealthWell provides financial assistance to adults and children facing medical hardship resulting from gaps in their insurance that cause out-of-pocket medical expenses to escalate rapidly. HealthWell assists with the treatment-related cost-sharing obligations of these patients. For more information, please visit www.HealthWellFoundation.org.

CONTACT:
Ginny Dunn
240-632-5309
[email protected]

SOURCE HealthWell Foundation